[[NextSundayAD In the year 2012]] of [[AlternateReality the Neo A.D. calendar]], urban life is supported by a [[GreenAesop new, clean energy source]] known as "Enetron". However, a hostile force codenamed "Vaglass" is attempting to steal that energy for their own dark purposes.

Thirteen years ago, the Vaglass [[ComputerVirus computer virus]] infected the main computers of the Energy Management Centre that regulates Enetron. The virus quickly [[ContagiousAI raged out of control and gained sentience]], becoming a threat to the world itself. With no other option, the researchers [[SealedEvilInACan sealed the virus away]] by teleporting the entire facility into [[PhantomZone hyperspace]] at the [[HeroicSacrifice cost of their own lives]].

Now in the present, the agents of Vaglass are aiming to siphon enough Enetron to teleport the consciousness known as "Messiah" back into the real world. Opposing their evil plans is the secret special-ops division of the Energy Management Centre, codenamed "Go-Busters".

Aired alongside the ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'' and then ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'', with the casts meeting each other in ''[[Film/KamenRiderXSuperSentaiSuperHeroTaisen Super Hero Taisen]]'' and ''[[Film/KamenRiderXSuperSentaiXSpaceSheriffSuperHeroTaisenZ Super Hero Taisen Z]]'' respectively, in the ''Series/SuperHeroTime'' block.

!! The Go-Busters:

* Hiromu Sakurada/'''Red Buster''': TheLeader of the Go-Busters and most skillful of the team.** Cheeda Nick: Hiromu's partner, a humanoid cheetah robot who looks out for him like an older brother. He's able to turn into a motorcycle, but ironically has no sense of direction.* Ryuji Iwasaki/'''Blue Buster''': The [[TeamDad eldest]] and [[TheBigGuy strongest]] of the team. His [[TheSocialExpert social expertise]] tries to keep peace between his teammates.** Gorisaki Banana: Ryuji's partner; for a robot gorilla he's a huge worrywart. Often does mechanical work around the base.* Yoko Usami/'''Yellow Buster''': The [[TheSmurfettePrinciple lone]] [[TheChick girl]] of the group and has quite the temperament on her.** Usada Lettuce: Yoko's partner, a robot rabbit. Tends to be overbearing, leading him and Yoko to squabble a lot. Usually works as, well, [[JustForPun one of the]] BridgeBunnies.* Masato Jin/'''Beet Buster''': Wears gold. A gifted Megazord [[TheSmartGuy engineer]] who was once admired by Ryuji as a mentor figure. He vanished into hyperspace in 1999, but has somehow returned to the physical world after 13 years without any signs of aging. He is actually a digital avatar controlled remotely by the real Jin, who is still stranded in hyperspace.** Beet J. Stag/'''Stag Buster''': A beetle-themed humanoid robot who transforms into the silver coloured fifth warrior of the team. Has a [[TheLancer habit of showing off]] and stepping in front of pretty much everybody he's with whenever he talks, much to Jin's chagrin. Unlike Jin, he exists physically in the real world and functions as a marker used by the real Jin to transport his avatar and Buster Machines from hyperspace.

!! The Vaglass

* Messiah: The "god" of the Vaglass; a crazed artificial intelligence created thirteen years previously and sealed into hyperspace. [[spoiler:Destroyed in #30 when Hiromu destroys his core, followed by his physical form being destroyed by the rest of the group.]]* Enter: One of Messiah's agents in the real world. Although he resembles a human, he is actually a virtual avatar remotely controlled from hyperspace by the real Enter. Loves to sprinkle his speech with GratuitousFrench. [[spoiler:Seemingly destroyed along with Messiah's core in #30 by Hiromu while piloting a Type Epsilon Megazord, he returns starting in #31 and reveals his new plans in #33 by having backed up Messiah into cards which will mature into new Messianic Metaroids. All of this was never really to bring back Messiah as Enter planned on using the information gained from the cards to become the perfect human. He is the actual BigBad.]]* Escape: The second of Messiah's virtual agents in the real world. A BloodKnight who wields [[GunsAkimbo two guns]] called Gok and Magok, and refers to Messiah as "Papa". [[spoiler: Is killed off in 44 when Messiah re-absorbs her as he continues to evolve his new body. Enter revives her but due to her current data being deleted with Messiah, all the current clones are based off the original data of Escape.]]

See also ''Series/HikoninSentaiAkibaranger'', a parody ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' that ran early during the same year. Not to be confused with the Paranormal Squadron ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'', [[http://gelbooru.com/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=1459592 despite what this picture tells you.]]

It was not adapted into ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', being skipped in favor of ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger'' for ''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge'' (though there were some initial reports that some elements from it might be used eventually). This makes it the first ''Super Sentai'' series in nearly two decades to not be adapted...

...Or so we all thought. During the Creator/{{Hasbro}} panel at the annual New York Toy Fair in 2018, it was announced that the upcoming 26th season of Power Rangers would be titled ''Series/PowerRangersBeastMorphers'', and would use footage from ''Go-Busters''.

----!! Recurring ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' tropes:* AbsurdPhobia: Hiromu is terrified by chickens, because he was attacked by one when he was young.* AlphaStrike: Buster Hercules' FinishingMove; Hercules Crisis.* BreakingTheFourthWall: Mission 45, the first episode to air in 2013, begins with the Busters and crew asking the audience if they had a good New Year's celebration.* ByThePowerOfGrayskull: The team's {{Transformation Trinket}}s announce "It's Morphin' Time!" after being activated. Once it's formed the majority of their costume, they say "Let's Morphin'!" to form the visor to their helmet and finish the change.* {{Crossover}}: ** The Go-Busters join the action in ''Film/KamenRiderXSuperSentaiSuperHeroTaisen'' as the most recent Super Sentai team. ** The [[Film/SpaceSheriffGavanTheMovie new Gavan]] guest-stars in episodes #31 and #32 in a [[PoorlyDisguisedPilot poorly disguised promo]] for his movie.** ''Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger: The Movie'' teams them up with the Gokaigers, naturally.** Played with in the ''Returns'' special, in which the Go-Busters cross over with ''themselves'' (specifically, an alternate-universe version of themselves).* EyeCatch: Averted, much like in ''Gokaiger'', the Go-Busters' logo appears in the corner of the screen prior to commercial breaks.* FiveManBand: The team solidifies with [[ThreePlusTwo the addition of Jin and J]].** TheLeader: Hiromu** TheLancer: J** TheSmartGuy: Jin** TheBigGuy: Ryuji** TheChick: Yoko** For the alternate reality team:*** TheHero: Hiromu*** TheBigGuy: Ryuji*** TheChick: Yoko*** [[TheSmartGuy The Smart]] [[TheLeader Leader]]: Jin*** TheLancer: J*** SixthRanger: Atsushi*** {{Eleventh Hour Ranger}}s: Kuroki and Rika.* FleetingDemographicRule: It's only been ''two'' years since we have had animal-vehicle hybrids in ''Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger'', and ''four'' years since that was combined with [[RobotBuddy Robot Buddies]] in ''Series/EngineSentaiGoOnger''.** Not to mention, a whopping ''thirty-seven'' years since [[Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger the last espionage-themed sentai]].* HammerSpace: Conspicuously averted; dimensional matter transport itself is an established technology used by both sides, and would seemingly be prominently featured throughout. Both the Go-Busters and Buster Machines have their weapons teleported in from their base. Go-Buster Ace even has backup swords on standby in case it should lose one.** On the other hand, the entire concept of subspace as used by the villains is this trope taken to its creepy conclusion.* HumongousMecha:** AMechByAnyOtherName: "Buster Machines" for the Go-Busters' standard mechs and "Megazords" for humanoid mechs, including those used by both Vaglass and the Go-Busters. Human-sized bots are "-roids" (Buddyroids for the Busters, Metaroids for Vaglass). *** SpellMyNameWithAnS: The official spelling provided by all Japanese publication refers to the human-sized robots as [[http://puu.sh/eZKth/589dba2864.jpg "-loid"]] (see also [[http://p-bandai.jp/item/item-1000014834/ these T-shirts]]). However, "-roid" as in "android" prevailed in fansubs. The [[JapaneseRanguage whole ambiguity of R and L in Japanese]] doesn't help things, along with show having the English text as "BUDDYROID" in earlier episodes and "METALOID" in later ones.** TransformingMecha: Each Buster Machine can transform from a vehicle mode (Buster Vehicle) to an animal mode of some sort ([[AnimalMecha Buster Animal]]). Buster Machines CB-01 Cheetah, BC-04 Beetle, and LT-06 Tategami Lioh both have an additional Megazord mode as well (Go-Buster Ace and Go-Buster Beet for the first two).** CombiningMecha: For starters, Nick, Gorisaki, Usada, and Ene-tan combine with the Buster Machines to get them to do anything more complicated than their vehicle mode.*** CB-01 (Red) + GT-02 (Blue) + RH-03 (Yellow) = Go-Buster Oh.*** BC-04 + SJ-05 = Buster Hercules.*** Go-Buster Oh + Buster Hercules = Great Go-Buster.*** LT-06 + GT-02 + RH-03 Rabbit = Go-Buster Lioh.*** Go-Buster Lioh + Buster Hercules = Go-Buster King** MechaExpansionPack:*** The Go-Buster Ace can combine with the Stag Beetle to form the Go-Buster Ace Stag Custom.*** Buster Machine FS-0O Frog can replace the RH-03 Rabbit to form Go-Buster Kero Oh.*** In ''Film/KamenRiderXSuperSentaiSuperHeroTaisen'', Go-Buster-Oh uses Series/KamenRiderFourze's Super Astro Switches, of all things.* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Episodes are called "missions".* InTheNameOfTheMoon: Like ''Gokaiger'', their roll call is pretty simple:-->'''Hiromu''': Red Buster!-->'''Ryuji''': Blue Buster!-->'''Yoko''': Yellow Buster!-->'''Jin''': Beet Buster!-->'''J''': Stag Buster!-->'''Hiromu''': [[TransformationNameAnnouncement Busters]], [[PreAsskickingOneLiner ready]]...-->'''All''': [[LetsGetDangerous Go]]!** The Doubutsu Sentai Go-Busters from ''Go-Busters Returns'' have their own:-->'''Hiromu''': Savannah Hunter! Red Cheetah!-->'''Ryuji''': Jungle Warrior! Blue Gorilla!-->'''Yoko''': Field Jumper! Yellow Rabbit!-->'''Jin''': Arboreal Leader! Gold Beetle!-->'''J''': Juice Drinker! Silver Stag!-->'''Hiromu''': Doubutsu Sentai...-->'''All''': Go-Busters!*** And later:-->'''Atsushi''': Wetland Swimmer! Green Hippopotamus!-->'''Kuroki''': Midnight Walker! [[LargeHam Black Puuuuuumaaaaaa!]]* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: The red and gold Buddyroids and Buster Machines have more features than the others. CB-01 Cheetah (red), BC-04 Beetle (gold), and LT-06 Tategami Lioh (blue-and-gold) have humanoid modes in addition to their vehicle and animal modes, and can wear other Buster Machines as armor. Cheeda Nick can also turn into a motorcycle, and Beet J. Stag becomes the fifth warrior, Stag Buster.* MonsterOfTheWeek: Metaroids, evil machines created by a virus that Enter injects into other machines or living beings.** MakeMyMonsterGrow: Averted. Instead of Metaroids growing into giant-size, Messiah sends a giant companion robot called a "Megazord" to assist the Metaroid (or take over the attack if the Metaroid is already destroyed). They come in at least four types (Alpha, Beta Gamma, and Delta).** Unlike other series, this is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in the case of the Megazords. Sending them into real space takes a tremendous amount of energy so Vaglass is only able to send one at a time. In #3, Enter even suggests that they hold off sending Megazords until they can gather sufficient Enetron to dispatch multiple Megazords at once. In the same episode, it was revealed that a slow transfer time uses up less Enetron.* {{Mooks}}: Buglers, mechanical foot soldiers of the Vaglass. They can also pilot their own zords, which are called 'Bugzords'.* TheMovie** ''Film/KamenRiderXSuperSentaiSuperHeroTaisen'' (featuring ''Fourze'', ''Gokaiger'' and ''Decade'')** ''Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters The Movie: Protect the Tokyo Enetower!'' (annual summer movie)** ''[[Film/TokumeiSentaiGobustersVsKaizokuSentaiGokaigerTheMovie Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger: The Movie]]'' (first Vs. teamup)** ''[[Film/TokumeiSentaiGobustersReturnsVsDobutsuSentaiGobusters Tokumei Sentai Go-busters Returns vs. Dobutsu Sentai Go-busters]]'' (Post-season [[DirectToVideo V-Cinema]])* {{Narrator}}: Shoo Munekata narrates the series.* PowerTrio: The first since ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger''.* RookieRedRanger: ...sort of. While Hiromu is a fully-trained member of the team, he was on furlough for a while because his sister didn't approve of it, so Yoko resents him as a "newcomer".* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Like the last two Sentai teams that started with just three members and never had an additional female ranger (see ''[[Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger Abaranger]]'' and ''[[Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger Gekiranger]]''), Yellow serves as the token girl.* SpandexLatexOrLeather: As opposed to the usual Sentai spandex, this series goes for leather with more uniform-like suits. * SuperMode: #33 introduces the Custom Visors, which convert the Buddyroids into additional armor that enhances the team's natural powers, but requires the Busters and their Buddyroids to be in sync to function properly.* ThemeMusicPowerUp: Significantly more effective in the second half of the season, after the {{Retool}} resulted in a brand new OP, because each time a major plot-important battle goes down, they play the ''original'' OP.* ThemeNaming: The first names of each of the Buddyroids are a combination of the animals they're modeled after and their respective partners, while their last names is a reference to their favorite foods.** Cheeda (Cheetah + Sakurada) Nick (a play on ''niku'', which means meat)** Gorisaki (Gorilla + Iwasaki) Banana** Usada (a reference to his partner Usami and ''usagi'', Japanese for bunny) Lettuce** Beet J. Stag's middle initial stands for ''Jueki'' (plant sap), which is the kind of fluid commonly drank by beetles, and is also the first letter in "Jin" and "Jet".** Even the movie-exclusive Ene-tan gets in on the food-theme naming, being named for the series' power source Enetron, which the other Buddyroids have sometimes been seen drinking as if it were soda.** Enter and Escape are named after keyboard keys starting with "E", and have opposite meanings (to enter is to go into something, to escape is to get out).** The mecha seem to be taking a different approach - Go-Buster ''Ace'', and Go-Buster ''Oh'', with "oh" meaning ''King''.*** Followed by an actual Go-Buster ''King''.* ThreePlusTwo: Two additional Busters, Beet and Stag, joined the team later in the series.* TitleScream: The first OP averts for the first time since ''Series/NinjaSentaiKakuranger'''s "title sing." The second OP brings the Title Scream back. (Though, it's at the end of the opening instead of at the beginning, where the previous Title Screams were.)* TransformationIsAFreeAction: Subverted, transformations happen in real time and there have been cases where the Go-Busters have had to dodge while performing it while the mecha transformations happen very rapidly. Go-Buster-Oh's transformation takes longer, but the components of Blue and Yellow Busters' mecha circle Go-Buster Ace and form an energy field before it begins to protect it during the combination.* TransformationSequence: Averted for the first nine episodes, doing transformations without stock footage ala ''Franchise/KamenRider''. A stock transformation sequence was introduced though, possibly for budget reasons, but it's rarely used.** Also subverted with the mecha, who transform in live action as well. Played with when it comes to Go-Buster-Oh, who does have a transformation sequence, but is implied to happen in in real time protected by an energy shield.** Further subverted by Great Go-Buster, as all its component parts are always assembled in the hangar instead of having a transformation sequence out in the field.* TransformationTrinket:** Hiromu, Ryuji, & Yoko: Morphin Brace** Jin & Beet J. Stag: Morphin Blaster* WeaponOfChoice:** ImprobableWeaponUser: The Transpod.[[note]]A shoulder mounted device that can teleport the Go-Busters their weapons and has a built-in voice changer.[[/note]]** ShoePhone: The Go-Busters' weapons are geared towards this purpose:*** CoolSword: Sougan Blades[[note]]A pair of binoculars.[[/note]] for the primary members and [=DriBlades=][[note]]A steering wheel for their respective Buster Machines.[[/note]] for the secondary members.*** [[CoolGuns/{{Handguns}} Cool Gun]]: Ichigan Busters[[note]]A single-lens camera.[[/note]] for the primary members and Morphin Blasters[[note]]A cell phone.[[/note]] for the secondary members.*** HandCannon: The Lio Blaster.[[note]]An attache case or a steering wheel for the LT-06.[[/note]]** PoweredArmor: The Powered Custom.** BifurcatedWeapon: Two of them, both of which use the Sougan Blade:*** Ichigan Buster + Sougan Blade = [[CoolGuns/{{Handguns}} Ichigan Buster Special Buster Mode]]*** Lio Blaster + Sougan Blade = [[HandCannon Lio Blaster Final Buster Mode]]

!! Tropes specific to ''Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters'':

* AllThereInTheManual: The official names of Enter's and Escape's monster forums, "Enter Unite" and "Escape Evolved", are never mentioned on the show and only appeared in secondary sources such as TV Asahi's official site for the show.* AIIsACrapshoot: The BigBad (at least at the start) is a computer that gained self-awareness.* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Enter actually launches an infiltration of the EMC's base as early as #6, though he started it off in #4. #26 has another infiltration that plays out somewhat less seriously.** #29 has the biggest one yet, complete with command staff and maintenance crew up in arms to hold them off as [[spoiler:Great Go-Buster is about to enter hyperspace.]]* AlternateTimeline: The first Sentai to follow the trope, seeing that Enetron is already present at 2012 and before, but nowhere in sight during ''Gokaiger'' and any ''Sentai'' titles previously[[note]]Although, with the exception of ''Denziman'' with ''Sun Vulcan'' and ''Gokaiger'', all of the Sentai series take place in different universes from one another.[[/note]]. The "Shinseireki"/"Anno Novi" designation on the year indicates this.** Then there's the parallel world of Doubutsu Sentai Go-Busters, which explores what things would have been like if the Messiah incident of 1999 had never happened. And in the meta sense, it answers the question of what Go-Busters would have been like if it had been done in the style of the Showa-era Super Sentai series, slamming the [[SlidingScaleOfSillinessVersusSeriousness sliding scale]] firmly to the silly side in the process.* AnimalMotifs:%% Please add context to these zero context examples before uncommenting them%% ** PantheraAwesome: Red Buster and Cheeda Nick%% ** EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Blue Buster and Gorisaki Banana%% ** RighteousRabbit: Yellow Buster and Usada Lettuce%% ** FrogsAndToads: FS-0O Frog%% ** JapaneseBeetleBrothers: Beet Buster and Beet J. Stag/Stag Buster%% ** KingOfBeasts: LT-06 Tategami Lioh%% * AnAsskickingChristmas: #43 and #44* BatmanGambit: The plan to rescue Usada in #9 was one massive gambit. [[spoiler: It even ticked off Enter]]!* BigBadassRig: GT-02.* BigDamnHeroes: Hiromu in #1, arriving on Cheeda Nick's bike mode and [[EyeScream shooting out the monster's eye]] when it has his team mates on the ropes, weakening it enough for them to finish it off while he takes on the Megazord in Go-Buster Ace.* BilingualBonus: In Mission 12, the actress Angie Sue sends the Go-busters an e-mail in English. It's never translated into Japanese, outside of its overall meaning as a thank you as stated by Ryuji. Those fluent in English can read most of it, and can also tell that it's not written by someone who is a native speaker. It only appears a few seconds on screen, so it [[FreezeFrameBonus has to be paused to be read]].** The opening sequence includes random English text. That text is the HTML source code of the English Wikipedia ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' page.* BittersweetEnding: Hurray! [[spoiler:Messiah has finally shutdown!]] It's surely a victory for the Go-Busters! [[spoiler:Except for the fact that all the scientists trapped in cyberspace are all dead now, including Hiromu's parents and Yoko's mom]].** [[spoiler: Though Jin seems to be still alive, they couldn't take back his real body out of cyberspace so he is there until further notice]].** [[spoiler:In the series finale, the Vaglass are defeated once and for all but Jin dies. To put it in perspective, the last ''permanent'' death of an official hero was [[Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger a decade ago]].]]* BlackComedy: #21 has an ImagineSpot about what the Go-Busters would look like in the future, and acknowledges the age difference between Ryuji and the others by showing him AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence, to put it one way.* BoogieKnights: [[http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j11/Testaros25/GIFs/idKXmrrVbfk2l.gif Go-Buster Ace can dance.]] Your argument is invalid.* ABoyAndHisX: Red Buster plays it the straightest as his buddyroid, Cheeda, stands by him the most compared to other buddyroids who stay in the headquarters.* BrattyTeenageDaughter: In Mission 27 the Scientist's 17 year old daughter is this, only showing up at her father's work place to collect her allowance. She gets better when she discovers that her father really does care about her contrary to her belief he didn't because he worked long hours therefore she did not really get to see him often.it* BreatherEpisode: #28 can qualify since it's just plain silly (even for sentai standards!) although it suffers MoodWhiplash at the very end when [[spoiler: Jin's enetron supply is stolen]]. Episode 34 could also count as such but then again suffers MoodWhiplash when the final fight comes.** Episode 45, it gives the viewers a chance to relax before things get serious again.* Catch22: Enter needs to collect Enetron for Messiah. To do so, he needs to use Megazords... but to use Megazords, he has to have Enetron.* CerebusRetcon: If it's possible to take a straight example even further, Ryuji almost punching out the chief in #4, treated merely as a HotBlooded {{Shonen}} staple, carries even more serious implications in #5 [[spoiler:with the reveal of his [[SuperpoweredEvilSide overheated]] [[AxCrazy Ax Crazy side]].]]* ChekhovsGag: Beet J. Stag's habit of jumping in front of Jin in order to upstage him comes in handy in Mission 25 when the MonsterOfTheWeek tries to use his candlelight to give Jin nightmares just as he had to Hiromu, Youko, and Ryuuji when they looked into it. Since Buddyroids are immune to it, J is unaffected and Jin is able to slash the wick and put the flame out.** Though it's entirely possible that avatars are immune too, as Jin is not really there.* ChekhovsGun:** At the start of #4, MissionControl tells the Go-Busters that transporting through Cyberspace is unreliable, and even using Metaroids as a beacon, enemy Megazords can be as far off the mark as three kilometers. When Enter shows up right outside one Enetron tank and is blatantly obvious about it, Hiromu realizes that he's just a diversion and their real goal is another district's tank, three kilometers away behind a nearby mountain range.** The Go-Buster Ace holding up against RH-03 gunfire in #2 actually justifies Yoko [[SpotTheImpostor picking out the [=Copyroid=] impersonator]] [[CuttingTheKnot by shooting them both]] in #12.** In #14, when rescuing Yoko after she's kidnapped by the second [=Tubaroid=], Hiromu attempts to fool it by impersonating Enter, right down to the voice, but is discovered once it realizes that Hiromu has a heartbeat. Turns out, [[spoiler:this is because Enter is actually an avatar in the real world, and his real body is in Hyperspace]].* CombatTentacles: Enter has some.* ConcealmentEqualsCover: From the looks of the first episode (and the general theme of this year's Sentai), looks like this one's going to see a lot of use.** ImprobableCover: Ryuji uses a table in #1 to block a bullet attack from the Monster of the Week. Said monster has an arm that can cut through a ''car'' with no effort.* CoolBike: Cheeda Nick can transform into one for Red Buster, making it the first Sentai bike since the [[Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger Machine Husky and Machine Boxer]] and LT-06 Tategami Lioh in mecha-sized version.* CoolShades: A part of the season's visual motif. They're incorporated into the Go-Busters' henshin devices, their helmets, and their megazords. Enter's got a pair, too, as does Escape.** TriangleShades: Red Buster's.* {{Cyberpunk}} and PostCyberpunk: A case can be made for both, but it swings more towards PostCyberpunk. A GovernmentAgencyOfFiction using child soldiers is presented as mostly good, even if it is also responsible for the series' BigBad, while the child soldiers themselves apparently underwent some degree of UnwillingRoboticisation.** Although to be fair; [[spoiler: the UnwillingRoboticisation (which was basically uploading an organic program into them that gave super powers, the ability to be telaported safely (which is what saved them in the first place) and a weakness. They're all still ''very'' much human) the kids were subjected to saved them from an even worse one.]]* DancingTheme: In this case, it's the Rangers and crew dancing on catwalks around Go-Buster Ace.* DarkerAndEdgier: Seems to go this way, even at ''five'' episodes. {{Deconstruction}} aside, Enter already displays capabilities to outmaneuver the Busters in #4, their commander [[GoodIsNotNice is not exactly the nicest guy around]]. And then, when Ryuji was overheated, [[BewareTheNiceOnes he's utterly]] ''[[BewareTheNiceOnes scary]]''...** Episode to episode it's fairly standard, and even more comedic than most series (the Buddyroids will bring back pleasant memories of the Engines or other wacky RobotBuddy characters), but some of the darkest things in franchise history happen in this series. Wherever you'd say LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt, it turns out ''they would.'' It doesn't hit you 'til the end, because it's not until it's all over that it becomes final that yes, they ''did'' really [[spoiler: have the Rangers forced to sacrifice the lives of their parents and all the rest of those researchers in order to render Messiah OnlyMostlyDead, and one of their teammates also had to be sacrificed to finish the job.]] It's better than letting Messiah absorb the whole world, of course, but it really feels like they lost. Especially after all the {{Hope Spot}}s that make it seem like they're going to ScrewDestiny on points where other teams always have; usually "X can't be saved" where saving X is a SeriesGoal just means it'll happen ''awesomely'' in the last couple of episodes, and there's always a dangled thread of hope like [[spoiler: "there's still some of their data in those Messiah cards," or "there's still some of Jin's data in Enter."]] In the end, it ''always'' serves only to [[spoiler: make the fact that there's ''nothing'' they can do even more painful.]]* {{Deconstruction}}: ''Go-Busters'' is much more explicit about the sort of after-effects that would be involved in a giant robot attack than the usual Sentai series. The Busters often spend just as much time rescuing people from collateral damage or cleaning up the aftermath of the battle than they do actually fighting the robots.** Also, while definitely not the first Sentai series to have a MissionControl and support crew, it is likely the first to realistically depict the amount of logistics that these crews have to do to give assistance to the team (instead of simply showing them typing on computers). For instance, the first episode shows that a large number of technicians are needed to coordinate the launch of Go-Buster Ace. Hiromu also needs to inform the base minutes before that he will be using the mech to give them some prep time, instead of simply 'summoning' it instantly.** It's worth noting, however, that it's not the first or the most "logical/realistic" by far; ''Series/KyukyuSentaiGoGoV'' was pretty much an entire series of a serious take on that.** Another deconstructed is towards the Civilian Powers from ''Franchise/PowerRangers''. The powers are the results of upgrades and those same upgrades also grant side-effects, like freezing at the sight of chickens, slowing down to a grind, or the real clincher, going AxCrazy if you use your powers too much. * DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: In the updated version of [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Gokaiger]]'s ''Super Hero Getter'' which includes Gokaiger and Go-Busters, Go-Busters line is "Tokumei Mission, Go-Busters." The problem is that "Tokumei" translates to "Special Mission", so in full English, the line is actually "Special Mission Mission, Go-Busters."** The DVD and Blu-Ray releases contain special features that are also called "Tokumei Missions".** Also, the command to form the CombiningMecha is "[[GratuitousEnglish Combine Operation]], Tokumei Gattai", which one fansub group translated as "Combine Operation, Operative Combination".** Episode 42 Enter makes a Messianic Metaroid out of a Megazord. The resulting Delta Megazord that transports in is the [=MegazordMegazord=]* DistaffCounterpart: In #22, we are introduced to Enter's female counterpart, Escape.* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: #25. The [=RousokuZord=] taking out an Enetron structure by setting it literally aflame (the fire never spreads from the spire, looking like a huge candle) may remind older viewers of the case of oil rigs being deliberately set aflame in the Middle East, an incident that preceded the UsefulNotes/GulfWar.* DualWielding: Ryuji does this in the 8th episode when facing the Drillroid.* EarlyBirdCameo: As is a recent tradition started by [[Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger Goseiger]], the three Go-Busters make their debut in ''[[Film/KaizokuSentaiGokaigerVsSpaceSheriffGavanTheMovie Gokaiger vs. Gavan]]'', where they foil Basco's attempt to take the Gokai Galleon as the Gokaigers are busy rescuing Gavan, as well as Yoko giving Sally a pile of fruit to eat.** Subverted in ''[[Film/KamenRiderXSuperSentaiSuperHeroTaisen Super Hero Taisen]]'', though it was rumoured, Beet and Stag Buster did not appear, despite [[SixthRanger Gokai Silver]]'s appearance in the ''[[Film/GokaigerGoseigerSuperSentai199HeroGreatBattle 199 Heroes]]'' movie. However, come next year, Kyoryu Gold does indeed make his first appearance in ''[[Film/KamenRiderXSuperSentaiXSpaceSheriffSuperHeroTaisenZ Super Hero Taisen Z]]''.** The Special DVD features a cameo by ''Series/SpaceSheriffGavan'', then Gavan Type-G appears in two-part teamup (Missions 31 and 32) to promote ''Film/SpaceSheriffGavanTheMovie''. Ironically, ''Gokaiger vs. Gavan'', which as mentioned featured the debut of Go-Busters, was what lead to the ''[[Franchise/MetalHeroes Space Sheriff]]'' revival.** ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger'' make their first apperance in ''[[Film/TokumeiSentaiGobustersVsKaizokuSentaiGokaigerTheMovie Go-Busters vs. Gokaiger]]'', resulting in an awkward moment when Kyoryu Red finds he is alone when he comes to assist Red Buster and Gokai Red, the rest of his team ran late and only arrived after the two Reds took their leave.* EpicTrackingShot: A low-tech but effective example in #5, where the image is simply ''rotated'' at the same speed as Blue and Yellow's particularly difficult 360-flipping moves.* EverythingIsOnline: On the plus side, Enter can't just remotely hack into random machines to create Metaroids. On the minus side, how do you infect a ''fork'' with a computer virus? Or a ''candle''? Or a ''rubber eraser''?!** In Ep 46 [[spoiler: this is a plot point, as Enter reveals that he has gained the ability to directly create Metaroids, with just his fingers, from plants and animals. [[OhCrap The Go-Busters express extreme horror at this revelation.]] ]]* [[spoiler:FinalBossNewDimension: Invoked, the Go-Busters decide to drag Enter and his Megazord Omega into Hyperspace for the FinalBattle to avoid causalities, as well as allow them to remove the Messiah Card from Hiromu's body.]]* {{Expy}}: Enter is almost like one for Agent Smith from ''Franchise/TheMatrix'', [[spoiler:starting off a computerized being created by the villain, but then evolving into a more dangerous threat and usurping the role of BigBad]].* ForWantOfANail: The premise of ''Go-Busters Returns'', where the team meet alternate versions of themselves from a timeline where the Messiah incident of 1999 never happened. The alternate team are known as the ''Dōbutsu Sentai'' (Animal Squadron) and their codename system is a deliberate throwback to the one used in ''Liveman'' and ''Jetman'' (i.e. Red Cheetah, Yellow Rabbit, Blue Gorilla and Gold Beetle). Beet J. Stag, who was also brought from the normal universe, fights alongside both teams, using the codename of "Silver Stag" when fighting with the alternate team. There are also two new team members: the SixthRanger Green Hippopotamus, and Black Puma, who is Kuroki joining the fight on his own.** InSpiteOfANail: Despite the change in history, a lot of things stay the same: the whole team gets together, their foes (the Machine Empire Mechalius) are pretty much identical to Vaglass (with their leader being a counterpart of Escape), and they have all the same weapons and mecha as the main team (plus extras, such as the Go-Buster Ball). Even the Buddyroids still exist, though they have to be programmed with personalities early on in order to help run their robot.* FlingALightIntoTheFuture: Realizing that sending Messiah to subspace wouldn't defeat it for good, Hiromu's father essentually did this with the three Busters and Buddyroids, inserting in them a program that can counter the Metavirus.* FreezeFrameBonus: The first opening has excerpts from the English ''Super Sentai'' Wikipedia page scroll down at one point (in HTML code). [[http://i.imgur.com/U9BP5.jpg See here]].** It also pops up in some monitors throughout the series, like the one that appears right when Mission 04 starts.* FreudianTrio** Superego: Hiromu** Ego: Ryuji** Id: Yoko* FunnyBackgroundEvent: In Mission 21 while Gorisaki Banana and Masato Jin are having a conversation about Ryuji at a park, Beet J Stag rides a zipline on the playground then starts running around the playground with a bug net conversing with a large piece of equipment that has a grasshopper head. He continues this while waving the bug net in the air and eventually falling on his face.* GenreSavvy: Surprisingly, Keshigomuroid. Enter believes that he's a failure, as he could not grow to human-size. However, the Metaloid takes advantage of this by sneaking into the base nearly undetected to erase as much data as he can.* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: In #47, this is how [[spoiler:Hiromu manages to get past his weak point, by having the other team members quickly attack him whenever he freezes.]]* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Jin has a tendency to say "Shit!" in English.* GoombaStomp: Pulled off by the Great Go-Buster in #22.* GratuitousEnglish: Dear Lord where do we begin...** From the Buster Gear (whose English is {{Surprisingly Good|English}})*** "IT'S MORPHIN' TIME!"*** "TRANSPORT!"*** "LET'S DRIVING!"*** "IT'S TIME FOR BUSTER!"*** "CALL MODE!"*** "ANALYZE MODE!"*** "IT'S TIME FOR SPECIAL BUSTER!"*** "BOOST UP FOR BUSTER!"*** "ROGER! BC-04 BEETLE, SHIFT UP!"*** "OK! SJ-05 STAG BEETLE, TAKE OFF!"*** "IT'S TIME FOR BEET/STAG ATTACK!"*** "SET! ARE YOU READY?"*** "POWERED CUSTOM!"** From the main characters:*** "Let's Morphin'!"*** "Roger Rabbit."-Usada Lettuce*** "Come on!"*** "Oh, Shit!" -Jin*** From the movie: "Yessss" -Kurorin*** "Powered Morphin'!"** The Morphin Brace toy also has some other lines:*** "SPEEEEEECIAAAAAAAAL MODE!"*** "EXCELLENT! subarashii! COOL na SUPER sentai SOUL wo kanjiru zo!" Ironically this line shows up its Japanese as being far worse than its English.** From the theme song: "4, 2, 3, 1, let's go!" Yes, in that order.** #21 takes the cake with a billboard advertising a "''Fatless'' Sports Gym". Really.* GratuitousFrench: Enter uses quite a bit of this, including his CatchPhrase "Ça va (How are you), Go-Busters?".* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Yoko and J. get paired up a few times* IMeantToDoThat: In Mission 28, when the Metaroid uses its powers to disguise its Buglers as the original three Busters and the Busters as each other and Enter, J jumps in and starts attacking everyone as part of a supposed effort to work out who's who. When one of his attacks then throws Hiromu (who's been turned into Yoko) into a nearby fountain where the water returns him to normal, J insists that he planned that one.* IdenticalStranger: The actress that the Go-Busters protect in #12, Angie Sue, looks exactly like Yoko.* InstantExpert: Averted; the team has been training through simulations for 13 years, even Hiromu who was sheltered by his sister all this time.* {{Irony}}: In real life, this season was heavily influenced by- and made references to- ''Power Rangers''. It was the first series to be skipped for adapting ''PR'' since ''Dairanger''...[[Series/PowerRangersBeastMorphers at first]].* KansasCityShuffle: #9 has the Go-Busters rescue Usada, who has been kidnapped by Enter. Yoko comes up with an extremely elaborate rescue operation that involves using stand-ins for herself and Hiromu to distract Enter long enough for her to execute the rescue.* KnightOfCerebus: [[spoiler:Enter was already a pretty serious villain, but after Messiah's defeat, he's gotten much more unstable, [[DragonAscendant taken control of the Vaglass]], manages to ''scare Escape into helping him'', and on top of that, obtained the much more powerful Messianic Metaroids who's goal is to ''absorb people until they evolve into a new Messiah''. And then, just to further the trope more, ''he becomes the BigBad''.]]* LotusEaterMachine: in Mission 20.* MarketBasedTitle: The Korean dub is called Power Rangers Go-Bursters.* MeaningfulName: The code for the Buster Machines indicate the animals and vehicles they can transform into. Buster Machine GT-02 for example, is a '''G'''orilla that can transform into a '''T'''ruck. Subverted by the CB-01, which is a '''C'''heetah that transforms into a sports car, which combines with Cheeda Nick (who transforms into a '''B'''ike). The number at the end (0X) also indicates their owner. When X is a number, it indicates that the owner is a Buster, whereas letters indicates that it's an auxiliary mecha not owned by anyone in particular.* MistakenForDying: Ryuji in #21, thanks to a [[spoiler:rather cruel joke played on Gorisaki by Jin]].* MoodWhiplash: Mission 45 takes place between Mission 44, a ClimaxBoss battle and one of the heaviest episodes thus far, and Mission 46, featuring [[spoiler: the returns of both Enter and Escape]], another very serious episode. 45 itself is a slapstick-heavy filler episode, and while there was a week's break between it and 44, watching the two back-to-back is incredibly jarring.* MovieSuperheroesWearBlack: The costumes are still colorful, but incorporate black leather rather than the usual spandex.* MythologyGag: ** ''Go-Busters'' takes a lot of cues from ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', apparently paying tribute to Saban's show on the eve of its 20th anniversary. Some of the specifics:*** The use of "It's morphin time!" and "Megazord".*** [[StockSuperpowers Civilian powers]] (from several Disney-era seasons, particularly ''[[Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder Dino Thunder]]'' and ''[[Series/PowerRangersOperationOverdrive Operation Overdrive]]''). Further, the Busters got their civilian powers and were chosen to be Rangers because their parents are the ones who engineered the tech - right out of ''[[Series/PowerRangersSPD SPD]]''.*** Sunglasses as henshin devices (from ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury'').*** An evil computer virus as the BigBad (from ''Series/PowerRangersRPM''). Also, being a SealedEvilInACan who commands the Vaglass as a disembodied head, he's more or less an evil version of [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Zordon]].*** The team takes their helmets off somewhat regularly, which does happen in ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' (in ''Go-Onger'' for example), but is ''much'' more common in ''Power Rangers''.*** And the current arc, with [[YouCantThwartStageOne Enter successfully getting some of the items he was after,]] is awfully similar to the major arc of ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'', with Gruumm and Morgana getting one item after another in order to unleash their own BigBad SealedEvilInACan.*** That the gold member of the team is an eccentric genius scientist believed lost when the BigBad was unleashed, but turns out not only to still be alive, but in possession of powers brings to mind [[Series/PowerRangersRPM Gem]], only (hopefully) less insane.*** The Monster Making Method, which involves using completely random items like Forks and Drills, is something that has repeatedly been used in many Power Ranger seasons.** The Buster Machines seem to be a mash-up of the [[Series/EngineSentaiGoOnger Engines]] (animal/vehicle gimmick) and the [[Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger Gosei Machines]] (removable head gimmick).*** Speaking of ''Go-Onger'', Ryuji is pretty much an {{Expy}} of [[TeamMom Ren/Go-On Blue]] (but deconstructing the BewareTheNiceOnes concept).** The name and the spy theme itself seems to be a homage to ''Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger''. Yoko's name could also be considered a homage to EAGLE Agent 007, whose given name was also Yoko.** GT-02 using banana projectiles to attack is [[Series/HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger nothing new]].** Neither is Ace using a sword to attack even when in vehicle mode. That would go to the [[Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger Pat Striker]].** Apparently Enter's habit of repeating words thrice came from [[Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger Kinggon]]. Did Messiah get his temper?** The end of the DancingTheme shows everyone in a very [[Series/GekisouSentaiCarranger familiar pose]].** Go-Buster Beet takes its cues from ''Series/KyukyuSentaiGoGoV's'' Red Ladder (and by extension, the Victory Robo itself), since they both have extendable arms. BC-04 even resembles the Red Ladder's base design, despite being based on different vehicles (BC-04 Beetle is a crane, Red Ladder is a firetruck).** BC-04's placement in the Great Go-Buster formation is the same as [[Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger Gorai Beetle]] in the [=TenraiSenpuujin=]; remember that they're based on the same animal.*** Tategami Lio also brings to mind Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger - sharing the spinning mane of Yellow's mecha, has a bluish-purple color scheme, and is driven by Red.** Two in #42. The MonsterOfTheWeek [[Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger claims its victims by hurling insults at them]], and [[Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger not only is Yoko stuck in a hostage situation in the creature's vehicle form, but she's singing the exact same song that Umeko did!]]* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: "Messiah" is the trying-way-too-hard-to-be-good type.** It's a reference to Messiah's birth being on Christmas Day, the celebration of the birth of the Christian Messiah. It's pretty ironic.* OddlyNamedSequel: The first Sentai season since ''Series/KyukyuSentaiGoGoV'' that doesn't use the suffix "-ranger" or "-ger" in its title. It is also the only Sentai title that has the team's name pluralized.* OffTheShelfFX: The prototype for the Powered Custom SuperMode looks exactly like motorcross body armor.** The same is true of Enter's outfit worn under his overcoat.* OlderThanTheyLook: [[spoiler:Jin, who looks exactly the same as he did thirteen years ago, due to being an avatar that doesn't age. Lampshaded in #17 where Ryuji points out that Jin is technically forty years old, but Jin insists he's still 27 thus Ryuji is the oldest and should give him money.]]* OneTwoThreeFourGo: Referenced directly in the OP lyrics "[[GratuitousEnglish Scramble! Four Two Three One Let's Go!]]"* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: #5. Not just Ryuji - Seriously, how often does the MonsterOfTheWeek ''plead for mercy?''* OnlyInItForTheMoney: Why Kazuya, Ryuji's high school friend, decided to cooperate with Enter [[spoiler:after the hard work he made to the Buster Machine was not done the way he did in his years as an Engineer. This was before he decided to forget it after seeing Ryuji fight off the Drillroid to prevent Vaglass from securing the blueprints of Buster Machine BC-04.]]* OvertOperative: It's ''Super Sentai''. "Secret" agents or no, they still have colorful suits and giant robots.* PaintingTheMedium: The audio noticeably becomes glitchy when Ryuji overheats and goes berserk.** #24. J can even interrupt Jin ''[[http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/spongeboy1985/Screen-shot-2012-08-11-at-244.gif using the splitscreen.]]''** In ''Go-Busters Returns'', the passage of the year in the alternate universe is marked by title cards from episodes of a hypothetical ''Doubutsu Sentai Go-Busters'' series.* PantheraAwesome: Tategami Lioh.* ProductionForeshadowing: Remember in the little handover clip at the end of the last episode of ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'', with Marvelous about to punch Hiromu in the face, and Hiromu catching the punch? Now watch the end of ''Go-Busters'' #4.** The Televi-Kun DVD starts with Beet J Stag singing a song InTheStyleOf Ichirou Mizuki, well before the man himself would appear on the show.* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: The two-parter (#31-32) featuring the new Gavan, which was a glorified promo for his new movie.* RaceAgainstTheClock: Zigzagged. The timer that shows how long before an enemy Megazord materializes ticks with [[TravelingAtTheSpeedOfPlot varying paces]], but there's nothing that states that the Go-Busters absolutely must defeat the Monster of the Week before the countdown finishes; in fact, more often they simply split up and bring in their Humongous Mecha while simultaneously fighting the monster if there isn't enough time, or they defeat the monster well before the countdown finishes and have plenty of time to get into their Buster Vehicles.* {{Retool}}: Episode 28 has a new OP, removing the narration and bringing back the title scream. The new opening isn't that different, however. Episode 30 [[spoiler: kills off the BigBad]] and the next two episodes are devoted to a crossover with Gavan, leaving the fanbase fearing a complete abandoning of the original plot and the decline of Go-Busters' quality. [[spoiler: #33 reveals they were wrong, since the plot's picked back up, with Messiah getting a new can and Enter stepping up as the new BigBad.]]** Also from this point onward the show introduced more "Toyetic" items like the Powered Custom and had less of a focus on the Spy aspect.* RightBehindMe: The plot of #9 is kicked off by a feud between Yoko and Usada after she walks in on him ranting about her poor test scores and how "she doesn't need to be getting any dumber!", all while Hiromu and Ryuji look on and wince.* RobotBuddy: Each Go-Buster has a "Buddyroid", a human sized robot companion that is capable of transforming into the control panel of their individual mecha.* RunningGag: J's habit of upstaging Jin usually by jumping in front of him. Jumps into PaintingTheMedium territory when J does it when both are in their respective Buster Machines using the splitscreen. See PaintingTheMedium above* SexySantaDress: All four of the girls wear some variant in the Christmas special. First is Escape, who appears in a black Santa dress in #43 alongside Enter, who is in a male version obviously. And at the party at the end of #44, Nakamura wears a more traditional girl Santa costume, Yoko wears a Literature/LittleRedRidingHood-esque Santa dress with leather boots while Rika wears a slightly naughtier sleeveless dress.* ShipTease: Nakamura and Hiromu in #26.** [[spoiler: Pink Buster and Hiromu in #41.]]** [[spoiler: Enter and Escape in #48.]]** Hiromu and Yoko ever since episode 2 and especially in V-Cinema movie.* ShoutOut:** Cheeda Nick is a red mecha who can transform into a bike much like Series/DenjinZaboga, Autovajin from ''Series/KamenRiderFaiz'', Rikushinki from ''Changerion'' or [[Series/KamenRiderDouble Kamen Rider Accel]]. His humanoid form is noticeably less cat-like and rather similar to [[Series/KamenRiderKabuto ZECT]] or [[Series/KamenRiderDenO Den-O]] Riders.** Go-Buster Ace bears a striking similarity to [[Anime/{{Zambot 3}} Zambo Ace]], in that it's the only member of a 3-piece combiner with its own humanoid mode.** Usada's response to all his commands is [[Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit "Roger, Rabbit"]].** The launching sequence for the Go-Buster Ace looks similar to the one for Eva-01 in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''.** Go-Buster Oh seems to have taken some cues from the [[Anime/GaoGaiGar King of Braves]] when it comes to its TransformationSequence and FinishingMove.** Go-Buster Beet's combination even mimics [=GaoGaiGar's=] arms - both arms are a single piece that passes through a hollow torso until it's midway through. The camera angle of it coming in is even the same.** Drillroid (the Metaroid in #9) resembles [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Eva Unit 02]], only [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann covered in drills]].** Fanroid (the Metaroid in #11) looks suspiciously like a cross between [[VideoGame/MegaMan2 Air Man]] and the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz Tallgeese III]].** Beet Buster and Stag Buster's {{Transformation Trinket}}s double as their {{Handgun}}s. Only a few other [[Series/KamenRiderFaiz toku superheroes]] [[Series/KamenRiderDecade comes to mind]].** Jin's belief that pursuing perfection cannot be done, and he's a BunnyEarsLawyer who's been trapped in hyperspace without aging. He's an {{Expy}} of [[Film/TronLegacy Kevin Flynn!]]*** On that note, one can also see Enter's interactions with Messiah as a parallel to Sark and the MCP. Especially since Messiah is essentially a big giant red face.** #19, Cheeda trying out cooking is accompanied by a musical theme similar to a BGM from ''Series/IronChef''.** Escape's weapons [[NamesToRunAwayFrom/BiblicalNames Goku and Magoku]] are a reference to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gog_and_Magog Bible]], of all things.** #25. Yoko's PsychologicalTormentZone involves a StringyHairedGhostGirl [[TheRing climbing out of a well.]]** Enetron itself is only two letters away from [[Anime/TransformersEnergon Energon]].*** It's also a letter away from [[VideoGame/ChronoTrigger a certain pod/machine that heals you. But you're still hungry...]]** As if acknowleging the pre-emption of ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'', #37 has Yoko mimicking the Kick Strike+Drill FinishingMove.** Kenta's shouts of "Tatakae!" (Fight!) after being possessed by [[spoiler:Messiah/Karateroid]] in Mission 39 does invoke another person [[Series/KamenRiderRyuki who liked to say that word.]]** Rhino Doubler's weak spot is the same as it was waaaay back in the original ''Series/SpaceSheriffGavan'' series. It's not called attention to at all, but a strike to that exact spot is the only thing to make him feel any pain in the first round with him.** There are a good many to ''Series/KamenRiderFaiz'':*** The "leader" is identified by wearing Red, and has access to super speed. Not only that, but his ID number, listed in the opening, is 555-913-315, the henshin codes for Faiz, Kaixa, and Psyga respectively.*** As mentioned, Nick to the Autovaijin, even including the wheel machine gun!*** Powered Yellow Buster's Rapid Kick looks exactly like Faiz's Crimson Smash, from the camera angle to the kick itself.** The #42 MOTW [[Series/KamenRiderDenO turns into a train that flies and goes through portals.]]** #43 [[spoiler: Escape crushing Enter with Zeta Megazord resembles the same scene of [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Shinji crushing Kaworu with EVA-01]].]]** The Epsilon Megazord appears as a cross between an Evangelion Mass Production Type and an [[VideoGame/ZoneOfTheEnders Orbital Frame]]. Or alternatively, it resembles [[VideoGame/{{Persona3}} Thanatos]].** The finishers of the Powered Custom mimic the finishers of ''Series/KamenRiderOOO'''s forms:*** Red Buster's finisher, Volcanick Attack, is [=RaToraTah=]'s finisher. Red Buster's buddyroid is a cheetah. [=RaToraTah=] is based on wild felines, and cheetah is part of [=RaToraTah=]'s component.*** Blue Buster's finisher, Gorillarge Punch, is [=SaGoZou=]'s finisher, only minus the ground pound and the headbutt. Blue Buster's buddyroid is a gorilla. One of [=SaGoZou=]'s components is gorilla. The hand prop even looks similar.*** Yellow Buster's finisher, Rabbit Kick, is practically a rider kick, [=TaToBa=]'s finisher. Yellow Buster's buddyroid is a rabbit. While this makes the connection fall out of place, [=TaToBa=] also falls out of place for not having a consistent animal theme.** Messiah's origin is pretty much a reference to the infamous [=Y2K=] rumor.* SignatureStyle: It's written by [[Creator/YasukoKobayashi Kobayashi]]; her trope repertoire is bound to show up sooner or later.** The series itself in general seems to be breaking a number of trends already from the start - see SomethingCompletelyDifferent below - although it's hard to tell which ones are her handiworks.** NiceGuy: Hiromu; there's something to be said about his socially unintelligent bluntness though...Ryuji, on the other hand, fits the trope absolutely so far, [[spoiler: until he overheats, anyway]].* SixthRanger: Subverted. Technically, there is a sixth ranger (or rather, a sixth buster), but he's nothing more than [[spoiler:Enter's final form after copying Red Buster's powers.]]* TheSnackIsMoreInteresting: #10. Yoko eating her candies while staring down the enemy actually looks badass.* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: Between the change from spandex to leather, promotional materials calling it the "first in a new era of Sentai", and the MilestoneCelebration that is ''Gokaiger'', it seems ''Go-Busters'' is going to some interesting new places. This is also the first Sentai series since 1999's ''Gogo-V'' not use the suffix "-ranger" or "-ger" on the title.* SoundtrackDissonance: #20. [[spoiler: when Filmroid traps Hiromu in an illusion that his family is back with him]], Jingle Bells can be heard playing in the background, and it continues playing during Yoko and Ryuji's fight against Filmroid.* SpotTheImposter: #12. The Copyroid even drops below the radar when impersonating someone, so all our heroes can do is watch for CharacterTics. Unfortunately the Copyzord has none of those later on...[[CuttingTheKnot so Yoko just shoots them both.]]** Our heroes try to turn this on the bad guys in #14 with Hiromu dressed as Enter - but instead of Hiromu's incorrect use of French, it's ''his vital signs'' that tip them off.* TheStarscream: [[spoiler:Midway through, Enter begins to deviate from his programming and sets out to become the UltimateLifeform. Following the permanent destruction of Messiah, he assumes the role of BigBad]].* StockFootage: One of the hardest aversions in ''Super Sentai'' history almost nothing is stock footage especially the henshin sequences.* StockSuperpowers: The core 3 Busters each have a unique special ability.** SuperSpeed: Hiromu** SuperStrength: Ryuji** InASingleBound: Yoko** While in Powered Custom form, their abilities get upgraded:*** FlashStep: Hiromu*** SpontaneousWeaponCreation: Ryuji*** DoubleJump: Yoko* SuperDickery: In ''Go-busters vs. Gokaiger'', the previous team has apparently teamed up with their former enemies, the Zangyack Empire. [[spoiler:Naturally, it's a ruse to try to foil their plans.]]* SuperPrototype: Tategami Lioh.* SupportingProtagonist: Cheeda Nick gets the main character role in ''Go-Busters Returns'', but he naturally takes a back seat to the Go-Busters themselves for the fight scenes* SweetTooth: Yoko eats sweets to keep her energy up.* SwissArmyWeapon: The Lio Attaché is borderline GreenLanternRing.* TeenSuperspy: Yoko, and Hiromu isn't far out of his teens either. Averted with Ryuji who, at the time of the series, was one of the oldest heroes in many years at 28 years old, [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger at least for a hero who's not a returning Legend]] and an official hero ([[Series/HikoninSentaiAkibaranger Nobuo]] is 29 years old). The next year, Kyoryu Blue would one-up him by being 32.* TemporalParadox: [[spoiler:At the end of the ''Go-Busters Returns'' special, because Nick's death was prevented, the Doubutsu Sentai Go-Busters and their universe have no more reason to exist, so they disappear.]]* ThanksForTheMammary: Subverted: Tiararoid, #37's MonsterOfTheWeek, explodes before she can reprimand Ryuji, who had just hit her with [[FinishingMove his Gorillarge Punch]].* TravelingAtTheSpeedOfPlot: Hyperspace transfer times for Vaglass Megazords seem to depend on how soon the writers need it to appear. For example, the [=ShovelZord=] in Mission 1 took 3 minutes and 30 seconds to transfer. In Mission 3, the [=NeedleZord=] took 42 minutes to completely transfer. Taken UpToEleven with the [=TiaraZord=], which takes over ''twenty hours'' to transport.** It should be noted however, that the slower transfer time was acknowledged in series. Also note that it was implied to be that the slower the transfer time, the less Enetron used in the process.* ATwinkleInTheSky: The Fanzord managed to do this at Yoko in #11, unfortunately.* TwinSwitch: The Go-Busters take advantage of this in #12 to smoke out the Metaroid.* TwistedChristmas: Messiah's first incursion into the human world 13 years ago happened on Christmas Day.* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: #10. Nick can't find his way to Rika's exhibition, and tries hitchhiking...but gets ignored.* VillainousBreakdown: Enter has a ''glorious'' one when his plan in #9 is utterly foiled.* VisualPun: The debut of Beet Buster and Beet J Stag involves Kuroki searching all over and finding them up a tree - which is precisely where kids go to catch beetles in Japan.** #19. Spanneroid's GameBreaker ability to dismantle machinery instantaneously (including Buddyroids!) makes him a literal SpannerInTheWorks.* VitriolicBestBuds: Hiromu and Yoko.* TheWatson: The newest support personnel, Miho Nakamura, has little to no knowledge of what the Vaglass are or even how the Go-Busters got their powers, and is in frequent need of explanation. Good thing too since if she didn't the viewers would have a hard time keeping up.* WeaksauceWeakness: The same procedure that gave the Go-Busters their StockSuperpowers also gave each of them a weak point somehow relating to a RealLife computer problem: ** Hiromu: When he panics, he completely freezes up. Even when in mid air, at which point he will be stuck floating. [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes Chickens are the thing he fears the most]] (a phobia resulting from a childhood trauma and actually unrelated to his weakpoint), so more often than not it's the sight of a chicken, even a picture of one, that will freeze him up. While not as bad, yelling "chicken" at him will make him move like a rusted robot. The fast food chain KFC is known in Japan too, so his fear could be called a "Colonel panic", which would be a pun on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_panic Kernel panic]], the Unix-variant of a Blue Screen of Death.** Ryuji: If he uses his SuperStrength too much, he will [[{{Overheating}} overheat]], much like an overclocked computer. And when he overheats, he goes AxCrazy and starts lashing out at anyone nearby, friend or foe, until he either cools down or collapses.** Yoko: If she runs out of energy, she will stop moving. As a result, she has to [[SweetTooth eat sweets]]. Her weakpoint could be compared to a computer with a faulty battery.*** CursedWithAwesome: Let's reiterate, she regenerates her powers by [[GuiltyPleasures eating sweets.]] However, in practice, for a while it actually rendered her a FauxActionGirl, as she'd run out of power and fall on her face a few minutes into standard Ranger action and need to be rescued OnceAnEpisode, in exchange for a "power" that's something ''every'' Ranger has (jumping is the standard method of HumongousMecha entry, after all.) Lately, though, she's able to endure much longer.* WhamEpisode** Mission 30: Messiah and Enter are [[spoiler: ''gone! ''And with them, ''all'' the researchers, the Rangers' parents included, who'd been digitized.]] It's only episode 30, so clearly this can't stand, but we're given no kind of hint as to how it'll be reversed -- the preview for the next episode is all about a CrossOver with the new ''Series/SpaceSheriffGavan'' and gives us nothing on where the Go-Busters' story goes from here.** Mission 33 then proceeds to be another one by revealing ''exactly'' where the Go-Busters' story goes from here. [[spoiler: Enter's far more dangerous now that he's in charge instead of Messiah.]]** Mission 43 AND HOW! [[spoiler: Escape steals 2 Messaiah cards, powering up Megazord Zeta, seemingly kills Enter by CRUSHING him to death, and then a CurbStompBattle occurs where she blows away the Buster Machines with a single blast! All of this in a ChristmasEpisode no less!]]** Mission 46 [[spoiler: has Enter return with Escape, revealing at the end of the episode that he can recreate her from a flower. He also turned J's pet stag beetle into a Metaroid. Yes. Enter can infect living beings, such as plants and animals, with Metaviruses!]]** Mission 47 [[spoiler: finds yet another way to top the above, TWICE. 1) Enter found out Hiromu's weakpoint 2) How did he find out? ...After a Final Buster, even after getting vaporized and utterly annihilated along with the Messiah cards, he still respawns. His backup is stored in Hiromu, who is the receptacle for Card #13. Cue massive OhCrap.]]* WhamLine:** Two from Mission 28: [[spoiler: One from Jin: "They took the entire Enetron supply that I had in hyperspace" and one from Enter: My majesté, Messiah...Your evolution is at hand!"]]** [[spoiler: From Mission 47, Enter drops this massive bombshell: "Red Buster, you are my back-up. As long as you are alive, I will always revive!".(Context - the missing 13th Messiah Card is inside Hiromu)]]** Mission 48. [[spoiler: "Let's...morphin'."]]* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: [[spoiler:Everyone gets back together for Yoko's high school graduation party sometime after the finale, with Ryuji now an engineer, Hiromu and Nick back as a family with Rika, and J traveling the world and exploring (and guarding) nature]]* TheWorfEffect: Despite all the training, the superhuman abilities, and the battles against the Vaglass, the core 3 Go-Busters are foiled by a mere cat burglar in #41.* WrestlerInAllOfUs: Ryuji's battle with the Dumbbellroid in episode 20.** The entire premise in episode 38.* WriteBackToTheFuture: [[spoiler:In ''Go-Busters vs. Gokaiger'', Yoko, Beet J. Stag and Gai are trapped in the Edo era, and end up informing their friends left behind in the present of what happened by leaving a message with [[Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger the Shiba clan]] which is kept in the family until the present.]]* WritersCannotDoMath: In Mission 44 Enter mentions that Messiah came to power 13 years ago. It should really be 14 years ago as the series started with it being 13 years ago almost a year has passed and that Christmas should mark 14 years.** Averted with Ryuji as the writers haven't forgotten that he celebrated a birthday some time during the series as Mission 45 mentions that he's 29 where he was previously 28 at the start of the series.* YouAreNotAlone: One of the reoccurring themes of Go-Busters throughout the series so far.* YourMindMakesItReal: Candleroid's PsychologicalTormentZone in #25. Ryuji hallucinates about zombies, and gets bite marks for real (he doesn't turn, though). [[spoiler:Unless you count his ExplosiveOverclocking later.]]* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: Mission 44 ends with [[spoiler:the Go-Busters successfully destroying Messiah once and for all, seemingly ending the threat and fulfilling their mission...but then at the last second, Enter returns, now able to fully assume his position as the TrueFinalBoss]].